Home Alone

The good Lord has given this wonderful being called a dog which comes with a sacred contract in which we are to take care of him and in turn, he comforts us in our hard times, in our loneliness, in our sickness and our joys.

Perhaps you are now single for the first time in your life and have decided you want a puppy!  So you get a tiny bundle of fluff and hurry home in anticipation of a lifetime of happiness with no memory of how hard it was to train a dog.  Actually, it's not the dog that needs training, it's the new owner.  But it's just a dog you think, all you have to do is show him once where to potty and he'll understand. How soon you will learn.  You have to take him outside and be PATIENT while he sniffs everything and eventually he'll go.

So you get frustrated.  Your interactions become less amiable to your new friend and the yelling begins.  The little guy has no clue what is going on because all you sound like to him is Charlie  Brown's teacher.  Worse yet, you leave him alone and hope he can figure it out somehow.  Does a human child just "figure it out"?

Let's say your dog has somehow learned.  You go about your day.  While he waits.

You work a day and he rejoices at you return but you're tired.  So he waits  until you take him out.  But he can't hold it anymore so he makes a mess and you yell.

He wants to play but you'd rather not be bothered and wonder why he won't just sit quietly in your lap....  It's because he has had no mental stimulation all day.

Your next day begins and you close the door on the little face that has to again be alone all day.  He decides to make his own excitement to stave off his boredom and HIS loneliness.

He begins to explore and finds wonderful things!  Your socks!  Your shoes! The loose carpet edge, and he begins to have SOME kind of fun.

You come home to find your house in shambles! Your dog happily greets you and is greeted by you, the only one he knows, his caretaker and master home at last, only to be screamed at.  You've had a rough day so you decide to go out to dinner with your friends leaving your dog home alone again.

He's bored out of his mind so he begins to call for his pack leader (YOU).  Your return is met with your neighbor's complaint about his barking.  You immediately interrupt his greeting with yet another scolding.

Who does this puppy turn to for comfort, for teaching, for acceptance when everything he does seems to be wrong?  Who can he trust?

This scenario is living hell for a dog.  Put yourself in his place... How scared and bewildered would YOU feel?

Before getting a dog, or ANY pet.. Examine your priorities.  A dog will love you unconditionally... Will you do the same?

You are all he has.